Electric steering assembly for marine craft auxiliary outboard motor

ABSTRACT

An auxiliary outboard motor for a marine craft is provided. The motor includes a stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine. The motor also includes a lower unit rotatably coupled to the stationary portion, the lower unit housing a propeller shaft and a second portion of the driveshaft, the lower unit being less than half of an overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor.

BACKGROUND

Some boats, such as large fishing boats, are fitted with an auxiliary outboard motor, which may be referred to as a “kicker” motor. This engine is much smaller than the main power motor and its purpose is to save fuel while the boat is moving at a slow speed (e.g., trolling), as well as to provide a “limp” home mode if the main engine fails.

Kicker motors are often mounted on the transom of the boat. For larger boats, the kicker motor may be mounted to a bracket bolted to the transom face. The mounting location is important, as the motors require enough space to tilt, trim and turn. Common steering methods include a tie-bar coupled to the main engine, as well as several electric add-on devices. These devices require even more room to allow proper steering operation. Rigging is often difficult due to the tight space constraints. Most of these steering solutions fail to operate consistently.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the disclosure, an auxiliary outboard motor for a marine craft is provided. The motor includes a stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine. The motor also includes a lower unit rotatably coupled to the stationary portion, the lower unit housing a propeller shaft and a second portion of the driveshaft, the lower unit being less than half of an overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, an auxiliary outboard motor for a marine craft is provided. The motor includes a stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine. The motor also includes a lower unit rotatably coupled to the stationary portion, the lower unit housing a propeller shaft and a second portion of the driveshaft. The motor further includes a steering controller system that includes an electric motor located within the stationary portion. The steering controller system also includes a steering controller in operative communication with the electric motor. The steering controller system further includes a gear arrangement driven by the electric motor, the gear arrangement operatively coupled to the lower unit to control rotation of the lower unit for steering of the marine craft.

These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an auxiliary motor for a marine craft; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the auxiliary motor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Figures, the invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments without limiting same. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the present disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Various elements of the disclosed embodiments may be combined or omitted to form further embodiments of the present disclosure. The Figures are not necessarily to scale, as some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, an outboard motor for a marine craft is illustrated and referenced generally with numeral 10. The outboard motor 10 includes a powerhead 12, which is comprised of a powering internal combustion engine that is surrounded by a protective cowling 14. A driveshaft 15 is driven by the output shaft of the engine and is rotatably journaled within a driveshaft housing 16 that extends from the powerhead 12.

The driveshaft 15 extends through a lower unit 17 that extends from the driveshaft housing 16 and has affixed to its lower end a driving bevel gear arrangement 19 of a transmission. This bevel gear arrangement 19 includes is journaled upon a propeller shaft 23 that is, in turn, journaled in a known manner within the lower unit 17. A propeller 24 is affixed to the propeller shaft 23 for rotation with it.

The driveshaft housing 16 is coupled to the marine craft with a clamp bracket 30 for tilting and/or trimming movement of the outboard motor 10 about a generally horizontally extending tilt axis. However, as appreciated from the description herein, the clamp bracket 30 does not require any components that facilitate pivoting movement for steering. This is because the driveshaft housing 16 is stationary (in turning direction) and only the lower unit 17 is pivotable for turning of the outboard motor 10 and therefore the marine craft. Restricting pivoting of the outboard motor 10 that is required for steering to the lower unit 17 greatly increases the available mounting locations of the outboard motor 10 to the marine craft and improves the turning capability of the outboard motor 10. The lower unit 17 has a height that is less than half of the overall height H (FIG. 1) of the outboard motor 10. In some embodiments, only the lower third (or less) of the outboard motor 10 pivots.

As can be appreciated from the disclosure, the lower unit 17 may be referred to herein as a rotatable portion of the overall outboard motor 10, while the driveshaft housing 16 and the powerhead 12 may be collectively referred to herein as a stationary portion of the overall outboard motor 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, with continued reference to FIG. 1, the lower unit 17 and the components contained therein are illustrated in greater detail. The outboard motor includes a power wire 32 that extends from the powerhead 12 to an electric motor 34. The electric motor 34 has a pinion gear 36 mounted to an output shaft 38 of the electric motor 34. The pinion gear 36 is in meshed connection with a driven gear 40 that rotates about the driveshaft 15 to cause rotation of the lower unit 17, as represented with arrows Z. Rotation of the lower unit 17 directs thrust and turns the marine craft. A bearing and seal assembly 42 is disposed between the driveshaft housing 16 and the lower unit 17.

By allowing the majority of the outboard motor 10 to remain stationary (during steering maneuvers), and restricting rotation to the lower unit 17, increased turning angles are available. For example, turning angles greater than 90 degrees are available. In some embodiments, 360 degree rotation of the lower unit 17 is provided.

In addition to the more flexible mounting capabilities of the outboard motor 10 and the enhanced turning angles provided, some embodiments of the outboard motor 10 include a steering control system, as shown in FIG. 1. The steering control system includes a steering controller 50 that is in operative communication with a motor driver 52 located in the powerhead 12. The communication between the steering controller 50 and the motor driver 52 may be wired or wireless. In the illustrated example, the communication is wireless, such as via Bluetooth technology. The motor driver 52 is in communication with the power wire 32 that provides a signal to the electric motor 34 that actuates the pinion gear 36 for rotation of the lower unit 17.

The steering controller 50 includes a spring-centered knob 54 at the helm of the marine craft for manually turning the marine craft in some embodiments. Electronics located within the steering controller 50 include a 9-axis compass, GPS components and software in some embodiments. Additional or fewer electronic components may be provided in other embodiments. The steering controller 50 enables a heading hold feature that maintains a heading when the knob 54 is released. The heading hold feature may be engaged or disengaged, as desired by an operator.

Although the rotary knob 54 is described above as the manual interface of the steering controller 50, it is to be appreciated that alternative interfaces are contemplated. For example, a wireless device may be utilized as the interface to initiate steering control of the auxiliary outboard motor 10 via the electric motor 34 (i.e., steering motor).

The embodiments disclosed herein reduce mounting restraints of the outboard motor 10. Marine crafts that previously did not have room for a “kicker” motor now have such an option. The clamp(s) required for tilting, trimming and turning is cheaper and simpler because it no longer needs to pivot. Additionally, extreme lower unit turning angles are possible, when compared to motors that require most or all of the motor to turn. Finally, an autopilot-type feature (e.g., heading hold) is a provided, built-in feature of the overall outboard motor 10.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description. 

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:
 1. An auxiliary outboard motor for a marine craft comprising: a stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine; and a lower unit rotatably coupled to the stationary portion, the lower unit housing a propeller shaft and a second portion of the driveshaft, the lower unit being less than half of an overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor.
 2. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 1, wherein the lower unit is less than one-third of the overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor.
 3. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 1, wherein the lower unit is rotatably coupled to the stationary portion with a bearing and seal assembly.
 4. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 1, further comprising: an electric motor located within the stationary portion; a motor driver having a wired connection to the electric motor; a steering controller in operative communication with the motor driver; and a gear arrangement driven by the electric motor, the gear arrangement operatively coupled to the lower unit to control rotation of the lower unit for steering of the marine craft.
 5. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 4, wherein the motor driver has a wired connection to the steering controller.
 6. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 4, wherein the motor driver has a wireless connection to the steering controller.
 7. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 4, wherein the steering controller comprises a spring centering knob.
 8. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 4, wherein the steering controller comprises a wireless device in wireless communication with the motor driver.
 9. An auxiliary outboard motor for a marine craft comprising: a stationary portion for housing an engine and a first portion of a driveshaft operatively coupled to the engine; a lower unit rotatably coupled to the stationary portion, the lower unit housing a propeller shaft and a second portion of the driveshaft; and a steering controller system comprising: an electric motor located within the stationary portion; a steering controller in operative communication with the electric motor; and a gear arrangement driven by the electric motor, the gear arrangement operatively coupled to the lower unit to control rotation of the lower unit for steering of the marine craft.
 10. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 9, further comprising a motor driver located in the stationary portion and in operative communication with the steering controller and in wired connection with the electric motor.
 11. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 10, wherein the motor driver has a wired connection to the steering controller.
 12. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 10, wherein the motor driver has a wireless connection to the steering controller.
 13. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 12, wherein the steering controller comprises a spring centering knob.
 14. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 12, wherein the steering controller comprises a wireless device in wireless communication with the motor driver.
 15. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 9, the lower unit being less than half of an overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor.
 16. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 9, wherein the lower unit is less than one-third of the overall height of the auxiliary outboard motor.
 17. The auxiliary outboard motor of claim 9, wherein the lower unit is rotatably coupled to the stationary portion with a bearing and seal assembly. 